Rw. Bryner et al., Effects of resistance vs. aerobic training combined with an 800 calorie liquid diet on lean body mass and resting metabolic rate, J AM COL N, 18(2), 1999, pp. 115-121
Objective: Utilization of very-low-calorie diets (VLCD) for weight loss res
ults in loss of lean body weight (LBW) and a decrease in resting metabolic
rate (RMR). The addition of aerobic exercise does not prevent this. The pur
pose of this study was to examine the effect of intensive, high volume resi
stance training combined with a VLCD on these parameters.
Methods: Twenty subjects (17 women, three men), mean age 38 years, were ran
domly assigned to either standard treatment control plus diet (C+D), n=10,
or resistance exercise plus diet (R+D), n=10. Both groups consumed 800 kcal
/day liquid formula diets for 12 weeks. The C+D group exercised 1 hour four
times/week by walking, biking or stair climbing. The R+D group performed r
esistance training 3 days/week at 10 stations increasing from two sets of 8
to 15 repetitions to four sets of 8 to 15 repetitions by 12 weeks. Groups
were similar at baseline with respect to weight, body composition, aerobic
capacity, and resting metabolic rate.
Results: Maximum oxygen consumption (Max VO2) increased significantly (p<0.
05) but equally in both groups. Body weight decreased significantly more (p
<0.01) in C+D than R+D. The C+D group lost a significant (p<0.05) amount of
LBW (51 to 47 kg). No decrease in LBW was observed in R+D. In addition, RD had an increase (p<0.05) in RMR O-2 ml/kg/min (2.6 to 3.1). The 24 hour R
MR decreased (p<0.05) in the C+D group.
Conclusion: The addition of an intensive, high volume resistance training p
rogram resulted in preservation of LBW and RMR during weight loss with a VL
CD.